Early build of Windows Blue has leaked

Apparently yesterday an early build of Windows Blue was leaked, Build 9364 - a partner version that was originally compiled on March 15th shows some of the changes that will be coming. Build 9364, a partner version that was originally compiled on March 15th, has been made available on file sharing sites and includes some of the new changes that Microsoft is building into its significant Windows 8 update.

Leaked screenshots posted at Winforum show that the company is bringing smaller tile arrangements and even a larger desktop one to its Start Screen, along with greater control over the color personalization options, and a whole lot more.

As the Verge reports - Microsoft is building in additional Snap Views into Windows Blue, allowing users to place apps side-by-side in the Windows 8 view. The new 50 / 50 view is similar to the desktop mode snapping, but Microsoft also supports up to 4 snapped apps alongside each other. New alarm, sound recorder, movie moments, and calculator WIndows 8 -style apps will also take advantage of these new views, but we understand developers will be able to update their apps to support the additional Snap Views alongside other API changes and additions. The snapping improvements also apply to multi monitor support, where you can now run individual Windows 8-style apps across multiple monitors. Other improvements include a number of new options in the Windows 8-style settings screen. Microsoft appears to be adding all of the necessary settings required to ensure tablet users don't have to drop to the desktop Control Panel to change things. SkyDrive options are present, which appear to show greater integration with auto camera uploads and control over device back ups and files. There's also an app settings section that surfaces options to change default apps and information on app sizes.

Settings and UI improvements aside, Microsoft is also making changes to its Charms. The Devices Charm includes a new "play" option, which looks similar to the existing PlayTo options found in Windows 8. On the Share Charm there's a new screenshot option that lets you quickly share an image with applications. Internet Explorer 11 is also included in Blue, although it's not immediately clear from the leaked screenshots what improvements have been made. A tab sync feature appears in some screenshots, suggesting that Microsoft is planning to make tabs available on additional Windows Blue devices.

Touch users can also use new gestures throughout Windows Blue. On the Start Screen you can swipe up from the bottom to bring up a list of all apps, and in the desktop mode you can swipe up or down to reveal a desktop app bar that provides access to snap, projector settings, and more. We're looking into other leaked features and screenshots so we'll update you on any other additions. Windows Blue is expected to enter public preview over the coming months, with a full release due later this year.

You can create shortcuts to put shutdown and restart tiles on the start screen as well as icons on the desktop....you just have to be willing to spend 10sec searching google for how.... People just aren't willing to learn anything these days. They want everything handed to them with no effort. I've been using Win8 since launch day....and I'm happily learning new things about it all the time.

If you read my post again, I said "by default". I know you can modify Metro to be incredibly accommodating and useful. I'm not one of the bashers.

sykozis
Moderator

Posts: 20421
Joined: 2008-07-14

#4567150 Posted on: 04/01/2013 03:33 AM
My post wasn't necessarily directed at you....more a general statement for those that whine about the number of clicks it takes to shutdown.

makaveli316
Senior Member

Posts: 168
Joined: 2012-09-28

#4567324 Posted on: 04/01/2013 11:21 AM
This will be like Vista, not well finished and 7 which is basically the finished version of Vista.

Yxskaft
Senior Member

Posts: 1134
Joined: 2011-02-17

#4567539 Posted on: 04/01/2013 05:10 PM
sykozis, a key difference with those innovations you speak of, is that in previous Windows versions, there were always built-in ways to disable the new features and go back to what you were used to

You can create shortcuts to put shutdown and restart tiles on the start screen as well as icons on the desktop....you just have to be willing to spend 10sec searching google for how.... People just aren't willing to learn anything these days. They want everything handed to them with no effort. I've been using Win8 since launch day....and I'm happily learning new things about it all the time.

Each to his own, but one may think that the best GUI is the one where you "just understand" with as little effort put in as possible.

The "Start" labeled button always felt natural to me, if you wanted to start a process you simply clicked on Start and found everything.

sykozis
Senior Member

Posts: 20421
Joined: 2008-07-14

#4567621 Posted on: 04/01/2013 06:44 PM
sykozis, a key difference with those innovations you speak of, is that in previous Windows versions, there were always built-in ways to disable the new features and go back to what you were used to

Each to his own, but one may think that the best GUI is the one where you "just understand" with as little effort put in as possible.

The "Start" labeled button always felt natural to me, if you wanted to start a process you simply clicked on Start and found everything.

Show me in prior versions of Windows, how you can easily disable the explorer UI and revert to the Progman UI.... With Windows95, MS "forced" the explorer UI on everyone. There was no option to disable it and revert to the prior Progman UI without modifying system files.

When Windows95 first came out....people had to learn how to get around Windows. It was the furthest thing from efficient (just ask those that were against the change)....it's no different now. There's a slight learning curve, but it's not as major as so many are trying to make it seem.

And couldn't you just, all the way to XP, type progman in "run" if you wanted to start it?

DSparil
Senior Member

Posts: 3211
Joined: 2001-04-13

#4567870 Posted on: 04/01/2013 11:44 PMToo many releases means I have to buy more OS(es) that I don't want. That alone displeases me... *I need them in order to learn them inside out so that I can fix the PCs that people bring me.

*insert unhappy face here:

The first three words here nailed it. Too many releases! Give it a rest Microsoft, its too damn much already. We don't need a new OS every time there's a full moon.

H83
Senior Member

Posts: 2193
Joined: 2009-09-08

#4567922 Posted on: 04/02/2013 12:47 AM
Regarding MS i think they have ****ed up big time with their lastest OSes, both mobile and for desktop.

W8 for cellphones is a very nice OS and i wouldn´t mind buying a cellphone with it but they took ages to release the damn thing!!! They let Apple and Google take all off the market and only then they wake up and realised they had to do something!!!
Now they have to fight against two extremely established mobile OSes and try to build an app library big and competitive enough against the ones of Apple and Android. And let´s not forget how they ****ed up the buyers of W7 mobile... Nice one MS, nice one...

As for W8 desktop, is simply stupid the decisions they´ve made about it. I understand they need to attend the mobile market, tablets in this case, and that it´s better to have just one OS for desktop and tablets but the way they forced some things on consumers is simply stupid!!!!
Forcing desktop users to use Metro GUI and removing the start menu is one of the most idiotic decisions they could have made!!! They want people to buy stuff through Windows market but no one is going to do this on a desktop!!! And becasue of this simple decision W8 is being a commercial flop! Very few need touch screen on a desktop or a laptop, this was a huge miss on MS part.
Then we have the RT/ PRO debacle, that pretty much destroyed their tablet efforts because no one wants Windows without their legacy apps and no one wants to pay almost 1000€ for a tablet with ****ty hardware so they can run the same legacy apps...
To make things worse, MS decided to make thir one tablets giving the middle finger to all of it´s hardware partners than in turn are refusing to releasing tablets with Windows, at least in a serious manner...

This is what i think of it, MS simply ****ed up with the most simple and stupid decisions...